WWW.THELEAVEN.COM NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS • VOL. 29, NO. 27 FEBRUARY 22, 2008 Trevor Potts signs the Book of the Elect as his sponsor and father, Jerry Potts, and Father Jerry Volz, pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Topeka, look on. IT’S ALL RITE STORY BY KARA HANSEN | PHOTOS BY JAY SOLDNER OPEKA — For hundreds of people and ways they can be part of the church,” said who have been attending RCIA class - Father Volz. es around the archdiocese, the Rite of But the Rite of Election is definitely a high T Election marked the home stretch of point of the process. their journey into the Catholic faith. “The Rite of Election really broadens their un - “We’ve been in it for the long haul,” said derstanding of the church, especially of the uni - Trevor Potts. He and his wife, Nichole, have been versal church,” he said. “The archbishop is present attending RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of to encourage them to go on and [to] give them his Adults) classes at St. Matthew Parish in Topeka approval in the final part of their journey.” since early fall. “We’ve learned so much about the The Potts were among those who participated Catholic religion and church in general, and in the third Rite of Election ceremony this year, formed a lot of friendships as well.” held at Most Pure Heart of Mary in Topeka on Father Jerry Volz, pastor of St. Matthew, said Feb. 17. The first two were held at St. Patrick getting to the Rite of Election was a gradual Parish in Kansas City, Kan., and Prince of Peace process for most participants. Parish in Olathe on Feb. 10. “RCIA is first about inquiring into the As part of the rite, catechumens are presented Catholic Church and bringing together people to Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann along with with their different perspectives. The church their godparents. Separately, candidates are pre - then helps them understand who God is and sented with their sponsors. The event serves as how he relates to people — first as individuals the formal announcement of who will be entering and then as a community — which is really im - the church at the Easter Vigil. portant for us as Catholics,” said Father Volz, Some 178 catechumens, who are seeking bap - whose parish has four catechumens and eight tism along with entry into the church, signed the candidates preparing for entry into the church Book of the Elect this year. Hundreds more candi - this year. dates — those previously baptized, but not as Being a part of that community, he said, in - Catholics, who are seeking full communion with volves participation. the church — participated as well. “We invite them to be a part of the parish by At the Easter Vigil, these catechumens and inviting members of different organizations candidates will become full members of the Loreena Potts, a parishioner of Christ the King Parish in Topeka, shows her and committees to share with the RCIA class so Catholic Church. After Easter, they will begin a support for catechumen Nichole Potts as Nichole signs the Book of the Elect they know about all the different opportunities new journey — this time as Catholics. Feb. 17 at the Rite of Election at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, Topeka. 2 LOCAL NEWS THE LEAVEN • FEBRUARY 22, 2008 FEBRUARY 22, 2008 • THE LEAVEN SECOND FRONT PAGE 3 LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS See what difference an hour can make this Lent ould you not keep watch for The description of the prayer of Jesus prayer to express to God what we think Jesus. one hour?” (Mk 14: 37) in the garden is very instructive for us. is best for ourselves, for our families and This portion of the Passion challenges “C This is the question Jesus Jesus first asks the Father that “this cup for all those we love. us to watch and pray with the Lord so posed to Peter when the Lord found him pass from me.” In other words, Jesus is Yet, in the end, we too must trust the that we will have the strength to face sleeping in the appealing to the Father Father and surrender to his will for us. whatever challenges we may encounter Garden of to be freed from hav - We can only do this if we are convinced as we strive to follow Jesus faithfully. Gethsemane. What ing to endure the pas - that the Lord desires only what is best for What sort of difference would a weekly would have hap - ARCHBISHOP sion and crucifixion. us and those we love. If our prayer is to hour of eucharistic adoration and prayer pened differently for JOSEPH F. I find great comfort be truly patterned after the prayer of make in our lives? Are we really too busy Peter had he prayed in this request of Jesus Jesus, then we must ask for the grace to to give Jesus just one of the 168 hours he in Gethsemane rather NAUMANN to be spared suffering conform our will to God’s will. gives us each week? than slept? and death. In so doing, While Jesus is prostrate and anguish - What difference would an hour of As we continue Jesus has in effect giv - ing in prayer, Peter, James and John are prayer make in our daily lives? For this series of reflec - en us permission to prostrate in sleep. The Gospel describes many, it may simply not be possible to go tions on the Passion of Jesus, we come to pray to be relieved from things that are them barely able to keep their eyes open. to an adoration chapel every day. Yet, Sister Mary Grace Swift, takes a break Sister Marie William Blyth works in the Sister Rita Lavigne, director of the Paola the portion of the Passion narrative after difficult and burdensome. In the Gospel, I can sympathize with the apostles and we can pray in our home or in our apart - from tending the Lourdes of the Plains grot - Ursuline library in the convent. She is also the Area Church Action Food Pantry, sorts the Last Supper where Jesus goes to the Jesus frequently responded to such pleas their inability to fight off sleep. At the ment. We can pray in the car or while to on the Ursuline grounds. director of the Ursuline Associates program. through food donations made to the pantry. Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Jesus to lift another’s burden. It is normal and same time, one has to wonder how they walking. With our responsibilities and asks Peter, James and John to accompa - healthy for us to ask God to free us from, could sleep after witnessing the enor - schedule, perhaps it is not possible to ny him as he prepares himself for the ter - or to keep us from, troubles and suffer - mous stress that their friend Jesus was carve out daily an entire hour for prayer. rible ordeal that is about to unfold. ing. Fortunately, we know from our own experiencing. Yet, we need to find opportunities in our In Matthew’s account (Mt 26: 36-46), experience that very frequently God does Jesus did not ask them to pray for him schedules to make time to pray, even if it A NEW ERA Jesus is described as feeling “sorrow and what we request, keeping us safe and at this time, but he encouraged them to is only for 10 or 15 minutes. distress.” Jesus even tells his disciples: healing us. pray for themselves. When Jesus finds God does not need our prayer. We “My soul is sorrowful even to death.” In Yet, if we are going to use Jesus as a them asleep the first time, he says to need to draw into God’s presence to ex - other words, Jesus was undergoing a guide for our own prayer, then we must Peter: “So you could not keep watch perience his love and mercy. We need to Paola Ursulines seek merger, plan sale of campus stress so intense that it could kill. St. also imitate the second half of his prayer with me for one hour? Watch and pray open our hearts to the Lord to receive the By JOE BOLLIG After a long period of declining numbers that community if we continued to remain so separat - Luke’s account describes Jesus as “in to the Father: “Not as I will, but as you that you may not undergo the test. The wisdom and strength to follow him in Leaven staff started in the early 1960s, it became increasingly ed,” said Sister Kathleen. “So, we thought it would such agony” and praying so fervently will.” Jesus trusts the Father completely. spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” our daily lives. clear in recent years that the community had to assist the merger, and make more sense, to begin “that his sweat became like drops of Though humanly speaking, he wants to Peter could never have imagined, As we meditate on the Passion during PAOLA — It was a hard decision, but the make some decisions. About three or four years to plan to move out by 2010.” blood falling to the ground” (Lk 22: 44). avoid Calvary, ultimately Jesus desires when Jesus spoke those words, how im - this Lenten season, Jesus is asking us, Ursuline Sisters of Paola believe it was the right ago, the possibility of merging with another con - In addition to the Sisters, other entities are Jesus asks Peter, James and John to even more to do the will of his Father.